Your Opinion: Don’t close Columbia mail processing center

The U.S. Postal Service is wanting to possibly close your Mid-M0 Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) located at Columbia Regional Airport and process your mail in St. Louis. Instead of overnight delivery across town for a first class letter, it will take three to five days because it will have to go through St. Louis first.

For zip codes beginning with 650, 651, 652, 653, or 635 your mail is processed at your local Mid-Mo P&DC. The closing of the facility will affect mail for people from Knob Knoster/Whiteman AFB in the west to Hermann in the east and Camdenton in the south to the Iowa border in the north and all locations in between. Currently first class mail for these areas are expected to be delivered the next day if it is from within these zip codes.

In 2012 the Columbia P&DC received an award for being ranked number one in the USPS Gateway District in 10 out of 12 categories. Of the six facilities in this district, Columbia has the best score in bottom line performance. St. Louis P&DC scores were the lowest in the district. The Gateway district is wanting to close the best facility they have and move operations to the worst facility. How does this make sense?

How long will it take to get your much-needed medication through the St. Louis facility? How long to get your church newsletter? How long to receive your bills? If your newspaper is delivered by mail, how old will the news be when it finally arrives in your mailbox?

In 2006 Congress passed the PAEA Act requiring the USPS to pre-pay retiree health benefits 75 years worth in 10 years. That is the retirement benefits for future employees currently in kindergarten or younger. No other private or federal organizations are required to do this. Most people are not aware that the USPS is not funded by tax dollars. It is funded solely through the sale of postage.

You can help save your local mail service, the Mid-Mo P&DC and save local jobs.